Article
Physics, Applied
Ramin Ghiyasi, Milena Milich, John Tomko, Patrick E. Hopkins, Maarit Karppinen
Summary: Inorganic-organic superlattice (SL) thin films fabricated using ALD/MLD technique show promise for flexible thermoelectric applications, with efficient heat conduction blocking at the inorganic/organic interfaces. The ability to manipulate layer sequences precisely and coat demanding substrates like textiles makes ALD/MLD advantageous. Studies on different organic components aim to explore bonding structure importance, density difference at the interfaces, and the thickness of monomolecular organic blocking layers.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
L. Khomenkova, H. Merabet, M. -P. Chauvat, C. Frilay, X. Portier, C. Labbe, P. Marie, J. Cardin, S. Boudin, J. -M. Rueff, F. Gourbilleau
Summary: The effect of Er precursor nature and annealing treatment on the properties of Er2O3 films grown on Si substrates was studied. Annealing resulted in film crystallization and the formation of Er silicate phase. The light emitting properties were determined by native defects and intra-4f shell transition. The intense Er3+ emission in the films grown with O2-plasma-assisted approach was attributed to a lower contribution of oxygen vacancies and pronounced crystallization of Er silicate phase.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
M. Jullien, C. S. Chang, L. Badie, S. Robert, M. Hehn, D. Lacour, F. Montaigne
Summary: Cobalt thin films were grown using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition, with investigations into their electrical and magnetic properties as a function of growth temperature. It was found that the magnetic and resistivity properties of the films varied with growth temperature, with an optimal growth temperature of 340 degrees C. The study suggests that atomic layer deposition may be a viable alternative for depositing ferromagnetic layers in spintronics applications.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ales Omerzu, Robert Peter, Daria Jardas, Iztok Turel, Kresimir Salamon, Matejka Podlogar, Damjan Vengust, Ivana Jelovica Badovinac, Ivna Kavre Piltaver, Mladen Petravic
Summary: The study demonstrated a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of thin ZnO films grown by PE-ALD method compared to those grown by the thermal ALD method. Various structural and optical experimental techniques were employed to analyze the physical origin of this difference.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Lauri Aarik, Hugo Mandar, Aivar Tarre, Helle-Mai Piirsoo, Jaan Aarik
Summary: The mechanical properties of atomic-layer deposited alumina thin films with different phases were characterized, showing that the hardness and elastic modulus of the films were positively correlated with their crystallinity and density.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li Liu, Mariko Ueda, Toshiyuki Kawaharamura
Summary: In this research, antimony doped tin oxide thin films are grown using an environmental-friendly mist chemical vapor deposition system. The role of different solutions in supporting the film fabrication process is analyzed and studied. The experimental results show that the choice of supporting solution affects the conductivity and transmittance of the Sb:SnOx films.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mari Napari, Tahmida N. Huq, Robert L. Z. Hoye, Judith L. MacManus-Driscoll
Summary: Nickel oxide (NiOx) is a key p-type oxide semiconductor with versatile and tunable properties, widely used in electronic devices. The properties of NiO(x) thin films strongly depend on the deposition method and conditions. Efficient implementation of NiO(x) in next-generation devices will require controllable growth and processing methods.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Mikko Nisula, Antti J. Karttunen, Eduardo Solano, Girish C. Tewari, Maarit Karppinen, Matthias Minjauw, Himanshu Sekhar Jena, Pascal Van der Voort, Dirk Poelman, Christophe Detavernier
Summary: The study explores the relationship between the electrical conductivity, structure, and oxidation state of one-dimensional coordination polymer thin films of N,N'-dimethyl dithiooxamidato-copper prepared by atomic/molecular layer deposition. The results indicate that the electrical conductivity of the films is highly dependent on the oxidation state, with a significant increase in conductivity upon partial reduction and the observed metallic behavior in the high-conductance state.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martino Rimoldi, Raimondo Cecchini, Claudia Wiemer, Emanuele Longo, Stefano Cecchi, Roberto Mantovan, Massimo Longo
Summary: This study examines the influence of different substrates and thermal annealing on antimony telluride thin films, comparing their morphological properties, crystallinity, and orientation.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pilar Jimenez-Cavero, Irene Lucas, Jorge Ara-Arteaga, M. Ricardo Ibarra, Pedro A. Algarabel, Luis Morellon
Summary: The study focused on the thickness dependence of ISHE in iridium oxide thin films, revealing that the charge current density of ISHE increases with thickness, following the typical behavior of spin-Hall-related phenomena.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Felix Blendinger, Daniel Seitz, Andreas Ottenschlager, Monika Fleischer, Volker Bucher
Summary: TiO2 thin films deposited on PEEK using PEALD method show promising osteogenic properties, enhancing the bioactivity of the implants effectively.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Sung Il Park, Byung Chan Yang, Jihyun Kim, Jaeyoon Ko, Gyung-Min Choi, Jihwan An, Jungwan Cho
Summary: Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) doped with yttrium has been widely used in electronic and energy devices. In this study, we report the thermal conductivity of YSZ thin films with varying Y2O3 content deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). The results show that the thermal conductivity decreases with increasing Y2O3 doping concentration, mainly due to increased phonon scattering by oxygen vacancies. Our PEALD YSZ films have higher thermal conductivities compared to previously reported films, possibly due to their relatively larger grain sizes.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Paul Schmitt, Vivek Beladiya, Nadja Felde, Pallabi Paul, Felix Otto, Torsten Fritz, Andreas Tuennermann, Adriana V. Szeghalmi
Summary: The study evaluates the influence of various substrate materials on the properties of ALD iridium thin films, finding that while iridium islands occur on all substrates, their size, shape, and distribution depend on the substrate material. As the number of ALD cycles increases, different growth regimes of iridium on different substrates are distinguishable.
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Elisa Atosuo, Juha Ojala, Mikko J. Heikkila, Miika Mattinen, Kenichiro Mizohata, Jyrki Raisanen, Markku Leskela, Mikko Ritala
Summary: The study introduces an ALD process for TbF3 films with varying degrees of crystallinity achieved by controlling deposition temperature. Films deposited at 275-350 degrees C demonstrate exceptional purity and high transmittance, making them suitable for various optical applications.
JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY A
(2021)
Article
Crystallography
Sanjie Liu, Yangfeng Li, Jiayou Tao, Ruifan Tang, Xinhe Zheng
Summary: Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition was used to grow AlN thin films on Si (100), Si (111), and c-plane sapphire substrates. The properties of AlN films on different substrates were comparatively analyzed. The study revealed that the as-grown AlN films had a hexagonal wurtzite structure with preferred c-axis orientation and were polycrystalline. The AlN/Si (100) film showed the highest refractive index at a wavelength of 532 nm, while the AlN/sapphire film displayed the largest crystal grain size and surface roughness.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Thomas Paul Weiss, Ignacio Minguez-Bacho, Elena Zuccala, Michele Melchiorre, Nathalie Valle, Brahime El Adib, Tadahiro Yokosawa, Erdmann Spiecker, Julien Bachmann, Phillip J. Dale, Susanne Siebentritt
Summary: This study focuses on the open-circuit voltage improvement of Sb2Se3 thin film solar cells. It is found that post-deposition annealing can effectively reduce interface recombination, increase activation energy, and improve photoluminescence yield. Additionally, atomic layer-deposited intermediate buffer layers such as TiO2 or Sb2S3 can overcome the limitation of short-circuit current density.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Michael Schobitz, Ondrej Novotny, Beatrix Trapp, Sebastian Bochmann, Laurent Cagnon, Christophe Thirion, Aurelien Masseboeuf, Eric Mossang, Olivier Fruchart, Julien Bachmann
Summary: The speed and reliability of magnetic domain wall (DW) motion are important for magnetic devices. Extrinsic DW pinning in cylindrical magnetic nanowires is mainly caused by grain boundaries, with spontaneous magnetization and grain size inversely affecting pinning. Other factors like lattice strain and magnetocrystalline anisotropy also play a role.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andre Hofer, Nicola Taccardi, Michael Moritz, Christoph Wichmann, Sabine Huebner, Dominik Drobek, Matthias Engelhardt, Georg Papastavrou, Erdmann Spiecker, Christian Papp, Peter Wasserscheid, Julien Bachmann
Summary: This study establishes a preparative route towards a model system for supported catalytically active liquid metal solutions (SCALMS) on nanostructured substrates. The model is characterized by a precise control of the gallium particle size distribution. The system involves spin-coating a gallium-containing precursor on nanostructured aluminum substrates and functionalizing the substrates with distinct oxide coatings. The model system can be functionalized with a dissolved noble metal catalyst for specific applications.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Felix Hilpert, Pei-Chun Liao, Evanie Franz, Vanessa M. Koch, Lukas Fromm, Ece Topraksal, Andreas Goerling, Ana-Suncana Smith, Maissa K. S. Barr, Julien Bachmann, Olaf Brummel, Joerg Libuda
Summary: Solution-based atomic layer deposition (sALD) enables the preparation of thin films on nanostructured surfaces with precise control of film thickness and homogeneity. In this study, a sALD process was developed to deposit CuSCN films on a Si substrate using CuOAc and LiSCN precursors. The film growth behavior was characterized using AFM, NN analysis, ellipsometry, and in situ IR spectroscopy combined with DFT calculations. The results showed that CuSCN films grew as three-dimensional spherical nanoparticles on a pre-formed 2D layer, with increasing particle density and size as the cycle number increased. The film mainly consisted of the beta- CuSCN phase, along with a small fraction of the alpha-CuSCN phase and defect sites.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kangfa Deng, Qihao Zhang, Yangxi Fu, Andres Fabian Lasagni, Heiko Reith, Kornelius Nielsch
Summary: This article presents a novel fabrication technique named PowderMEMS for high-performance, low-cost TE films and micro-patterns. The TE film is composed of agglomerated micro-sized N-type Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 powders with a molten binder of bismuth (Bi). The influence of key process parameters on TE performance is investigated, and the TE film exhibits a maximum power factor of 1.7 mW m-1K-2 at room temperature, the highest value reported so far.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anna Maria Dominic, Zhiyong Wang, Agnieszka Kuc, Petko Petkov, Khoa Hoang Ly, Thi Lam Huong Pham, Martin Kutzschbach, Yuanyuan Cao, Julien Bachmann, Xinliang Feng, Renhao Dong, Inez M. Weidinger
Summary: Molecularly defined two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks have tunable active site and bandgap designs, combining the properties of molecular and material-based electrocatalysts. Understanding the complex interplay between different metal sites and their influence on catalysis is essential for rational optimization.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Clemence Badie, Heloise Tissot, Beniamino Sciacca, Maissa K. Barr, Julien Bachmann, Christophe Vallee, Gael Gautier, Thomas Defforge, Vincent Astie, Jean-Manuel Decams, Mikhael Bechelany, Lionel Santinacci
Summary: This study focuses on optimizing TiN plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition by using two different N-sources: NH3 and N-2. Comprehensive physicochemical characterizations were performed to understand the influence of the N-source nature, their dilution in Ar, and the plasma power on the final properties of the deposited layer. It was found that a 1:1 gas ratio of N-sources:Ar mixture, along with low flows (20 sccm), resulted in the highest growth per cycle (GPC) values. The N-2 plasma exhibited slightly slower deposition but acceptable film quality, making it a nonharmful alternative that can be further improved with optimized reactor geometry.
JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY A
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Eva Schmoranzerova, Jozef Kimak, Richard Schlitz, Sebastian T. B. Goennenwein, Dominik Kriegner, Helena Reichlova, Zbynek Soban, Gerhard Jakob, Er-Jia Guo, Mathias Klaeui, Markus Muenzenberg, Petr Nemec, Tomas Ostatnicky
Summary: All-optical ferromagnetic resonance (AO-FMR) is used to detect micromagnetic parameters in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin films with a metallic capping layer (Au, Pt) by triggering magnetization precession through heating of the metallic layer with femtosecond laser pulses. The laser-induced precession corresponds to a uniform (Kittel) magnon mode, allowing for the measurement of local magnetic properties with a resolution determined by the laser spot size.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sonja Stefanovic, Negar Gheshlaghi, David Zanders, Ivan Kundrata, Baolin Zhao, Maissa K. S. Barr, Marcus Halik, Anjana Devi, Julien Bachmann
Summary: Area-selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD) is a bottom-up nanofabrication method that delivers single atoms from a molecular precursor. It offers advantages over lithography in terms of cost, resistance, and equipment prerequisites, but requires pre-patterned substrates and has limited selectivity and substrate choices. These challenges can be overcome with direct patterning using atomic-layer additive manufacturing (ALAM), which enables direct patterning instead of blanket coating. A functional thin-film transistor was created using ALAM-deposited ZnO and characterized.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruben Bueno Villoro, Duncan Zavanelli, Chanwon Jung, Dominique Alexander Mattlat, Raana Hatami Naderloo, Nicolas Perez, Kornelius Nielsch, Gerald Jeffrey Snyder, Christina Scheu, Ran He, Siyuan Zhang
Summary: By using scanning transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, this study revealed the structural differences of hexagonal close-packed lattice phases at grain boundaries in Ti-doped NbFeSb half-Heusler compounds. It was found that the enrichment of Fe leads to high electrical resistivity in Nb0.95Ti0.05FeSb, while the accumulation of Ti dopants results in good electrical conductivity in Nb0.80Ti0.20FeSb. This resistive to conductive grain boundary phase transition provides a new design space for decoupling the intertwined electronic and phononic transport in thermoelectric materials.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lukas Fink, Satyakam Kar, Klara Luenser, Kornelius Nielsch, Heiko Reith, Sebastian Faehler
Summary: Magnetic shape memory alloys have multifunctional properties and can be used for high stroke actuation, magnetocaloric refrigeration, and thermomagnetic energy harvesting. This study demonstrates the epitaxial growth of Ni-Mn-based Heusler alloys with single crystal-like properties on silicon substrates using a SrTiO3 buffer. It shows that standard microfabrication technologies can be used to prepare partly freestanding patterns. The approach is versatile and can be applied to NiTi shape memory alloys as well as spintronic and thermoelectric Heusler alloys, paving the way for integrating additional multifunctional effects into state-of-the-art microelectronic and micromechanical technology based on silicon.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wuyang Ren, Wenhua Xue, Shuping Guo, Ran He, Liangzi Deng, Shaowei Song, Andrei Sotnikov, Kornelius Nielsch, Jeroen van den Brink, Guanhui Gao, Shuo Chen, Yimo Han, Jiang Wu, Ching-Wu Chu, Zhiming Wang, Yumei Wang, Zhifeng Ren
Summary: Studies have shown that vacancy-mediated anomalous transport properties are flourishing in various fields due to their fascinating effects on photoelectric, ferroelectric, and spin-electric behaviors in solid materials. In this study, the authors reveal the multifunctionality of vacancy in tailoring the transport properties of a defective half-Heusler ZrNiBi material, providing insights into the phononic and electronic transport processes. These findings not only demonstrate the potential of this thermoelectric material but also promote further exploration of vacancy-mediated transport properties.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jonas Wawra, Kornelius Nielsch, Ruben Huehne
Summary: Substrate-induced strains can significantly affect the structural and functional properties of epitaxial thin films. By growing epitaxial Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 films on REScO3 substrates with smaller lattice mismatch, the quality of the films was improved compared to SrTiO3. The strain state of the functional layer depended on the substrate and thickness, leading to differences in permittivity and polarization behavior at different temperatures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Darius Pohl, Yejin Lee, Dominik Kriegner, Sebastian Beckert, Sebastian Schneider, Bernd Rellinghaus, Andy Thomas
Summary: We present advancements in in-situ magneto-transport measurements using a transmission electron microscope. This approach allows for simultaneous magnetic imaging, high-resolution structural analysis, and chemical characterization of the same sample. Our proof-of-principle measurements on nickel thin films, supported by micromagnetic simulations, demonstrate the importance of detailed knowledge of the sample's structure and composition for accurate interpretation of the magneto-transport data. This in-situ approach is expected to enhance our understanding of the Hall effect in more complex magnetic textures.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
M. Christhy V. V. Ruiz, Markus Terlinden, Matthias Engelhardt, Giulia Magnabosco, Georg Papastavrou, Nicolas Vogel, Matthias Thommes, Julien Bachmann
Summary: A geometrically tunable nanoporous system with enhanced active surface area is fabricated by stacking spheres in cylindrical pores. Straight, constricted pores are obtained through anodization of metallic aluminum. Polystyrene spheres are assembled inside the pores and serve as a filter. The system's geometry is determined by mechanical stacking rather than surface chemical interactions.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
